We’re a friendly bunch here at FYF, each as dedicated as the last and not that we’re biased at all, but we definitely have the best team in the world. Read on to find out who we are and what we do.
Callum Deboys
Callum Deboys, 26 from Prestwick in Scotland. A motorcycle crash that resulted in the loss of his leg would change his life forever. Originally a chef working at the prestigious Trump Turnberry hotel, Callum has always had a drive to prove himself. Back in 2017, his life was to change forever after a horrific motorcycle accident that would result in him having to have his leg amputated.
For many this would be the end, the start of a downward spiral but not for Callum, he saw it not only as a blessing but an opportunity. This opportunity would go on to see him represent Great Britain at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics to become the youngest British Para Nordic skier.
“Challenge yourself – it’s the only path which leads to growth.” – Morgan Freeman
This is a good quote to introduce his most recent adventure, one that for a while he never thought would be possible. When given the opportunity to compete in a Gordon Ramsay cooking competition, most would shy away with fear, but not Callum. After the loss of his leg, he thought it would be too difficult to work in a professional kitchen due to the amount of standing and walking required. The long hours and physical demands on his legs would be too much, but he saw this as a way to test his abilities in the kitchen once again and he jumped at the opportunity to grow.
“My accident has taught me a lot of valuable life lessons – we have to go through tough times to grow and flourish. We have to seek opportunity – it doesn’t come to those who sit and wait.”
Check out Callum’s first blog about how his training has been through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chris Woodward-Clark (Kristof Ironleg)
Christopher Woodward-Clark became a right below-knee amputee following a motorbike accident in 2017. A father, gym enthusiast and lifelong motorcycle fan, Chris credits structure, routine and fitness as key factors in helping him adjust and rebuild after amputation.
Training became a way for Chris to regain both physical and mental strength, and he went on to specialise in strength sport, particularly strongman and powerlifting. Competing under the name Ironleg, he has established himself within disabled strength sport through consistent training and competition.
Chris is a Global Powerlifting Committee (GPC) World Record holder, an International Powerlifting League (IPL) British Record holder, and a World Deadlifting Council (WDC) World Record holder. He has also placed 3rd at Britain’s Strongest Disabled Man competition. He continues to compete regularly, with upcoming events including WDC Scottish Record Breakers and England’s Strongest Disabled Man.
Alongside competing, Chris is passionate about growing disability sport and encouraging more people affected by amputation or limb difference to get active in ways that work for them. His long-term aim is to continue competing in strongman events while developing his coaching work in powerlifting.
Chris shares his training and competition journey on social media under @kristof_ironleg on Instagram and @ironleg97 on TikTok.
Brian Murray
Brian Murray lost his leg at the age of 11 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a tumour in his knee. Sport has been part of his life ever since, but it was in 2015 that he discovered amputee football while playing with Everton Amputees, a turning point that helped him gain a new found confidence.
Brian went on to captain both Partick Thistle Amputee Football Club and the Scotland Amputee Football Team. Over the years, he represented Scotland 32 times, including 19 matches as captain, travelling internationally to compete in countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Italy. Reflecting on his journey, Brian describes it as something he could never have imagined when he lost his leg as a child.
Although Brian has now stepped away from international football, sport remains a central part of his life. He continues to play club football and is deeply involved in developing the next generation of players. As a junior amputee football coach, Brian runs regular training sessions and supports young players as they grow in confidence and ability. He also attends international junior camps, bringing together dozens of young amputees from across Europe and beyond, helping them feel part of a wider sporting community.
Alongside football, Brian and his wife Valerie, who is also a below-knee amputee, have embraced wheelchair pickleball together. Discovering a new sport has allowed them both to stay active and competitive, and Brian has already taken part in league games, finding the same enjoyment and drive that sport has always given him. He is passionate about encouraging other amputees to try new activities and find what works for them.
Brian continues to live by the belief that staying active, trying new things and being part of a supportive community can make a huge difference after amputation.
Martin Perry
Martin Perry is from Paisley, 24 years old, and was born with one limb. No hands and almost half of his left leg were missing at birth. The condition is known as congenital limb loss/deformity. He has been active and sporty his entire life and played a variety of sports including football, basketball, rugby and athletics before finding table tennis. After being inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Martin made the decision to give everything he had to the sport. He is now living and training in Sheffield aiming to represent Paralympics GB at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Check out Martin’s first blog about his journey from being born with no hands and one leg, to living his best life and competing for the GB Paralympics Table Tennis Team.
Hope Gordon
Hope Gordon was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following years of pain in her left leg. When the leg stopped working after nearly a decade of treatment which unfortunately didn’t help, Hope courageously crowdfunded for surgery and had the leg amputated in 2016.
She was a member of the Scottish swimming team from 2010 until 2018, competing at national and international level competitions, before going on to try canoeing and was then invited to train full-time with the GB para canoe team. She decided to call it a day on competitive swimming and relocated to Nottingham in 2018, after graduating with a 2.1 Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Edinburgh Napier University. In 2021 Hope became a double World Championship silver medalist, adding an additional Worlds silver in 2022.
2022 was a busy year which followed with silver and bronze at the European Championships. Hope also became the first-ever female to represent Paralympics GB in Nordic Skiing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.
Check out GB Team Paralympic Nordic Skiing and Rower Hope’s first blog about her battle with chronic pain in her leg which led Hope to choose amputation and how she’s been getting on since.
Adam Donnachie
Adam Donnachie was born with amniotic band syndrome, which left both of his legs being underdeveloped. This led to minor amputations at 9 months old in 2001. He is a left leg below-the-knee and right leg through-the-knee amputee. He received his first prosthetics at two years old and his sporting journey began in 2007 after learning to swim in 1-on-1 lessons. This progressed quickly, joining his first club and starting to compete at 9 years old when he joined the Scottish Para Junior swimming squad. He made his first appearance for Scotland in Sheffield in 2012 and continued to do so until 2018. In that time, he broke multiple Breaststroke and Freestyle Scottish Records and won two Senior Medals. In 2016 he started playing Wheelchair Basketball and represented Scotland for 3 years at junior level, winning medals with the team. In 2020 he began a Sport Studies degree at Stirling University which saw him move to Stirling. In 2021 He started Athletics doing seated throws where he quickly rose to Scottish and UK number one, gaining his international Classification, Scottish and British titles and competing at the Wanda Diamond League as part of Team Scotland Achieve Programme. His goal is to represent Scotland or Great Britain at major Championships.